Sol Stern
The Bomber as School Reformer http://www.city-journal.org/2008/eon1006ss.html
Voters—and debate moderators—shouldn’t let Bill Ayers and Barack Obama off the hook.
6 October 2008
Back in the early eighties, in an interview with David Horowitz and Peter Collier, Bill Ayers remembered his reaction upon learning that he would not be prosecuted by the government for his bombing spree as a member of the Weather Underground. “Guilty as hell, free as a bird—America is a great country,” he exulted. Ayers is now a university professor, but he must have been exulting all over again after reading Saturday’s front-page story in the New York Times.
The article explored the putative relationship between Ayers and Barack Obama during the time they worked together on the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, a five-year philanthropic venture that, starting in 1995, distributed over $160 million in school-improvement grants to the Windy City’s public schools. Ayers wrote the grant proposal that secured seed money for the schools and ran the implementation arm of the project; Obama became chairman of the board that distributed the grants. Not only did the Times exonerate the Democratic presidential candidate of having anything like a “close” relationship with Ayers—their paths merely “crossed” while working on the Challenge, the paper said—but it also bestowed the honorific of “school reformer” on the ex-bomber. “Mr. Ayers has been a professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the author or editor of 15 books, and an advocate of school reform,” the article maintained. On Meet the Press Sunday morning, Tom Brokaw—who will be moderating tomorrow’s debate between the presidential candidates—picked up this now conventional wisdom and described Ayers as “a school reformer.”
Calling Bill Ayers a school reformer is a bit like calling Joseph Stalin an agricultural reformer. (If you find the metaphor strained, consider that Walter Duranty, the infamous New York Times reporter covering the Soviet Union in the 1930s, did, in fact, depict Stalin as a great land reformer who created happy, productive collective farms.) For instance, at a November 2006 education forum in Caracas, Venezuela, with President Hugo Chávez at his side, Ayers proclaimed his support for “the profound educational reforms under way here in Venezuela under the leadership of President Chávez. We share the belief that education is the motor-force of revolution. . . . I look forward to seeing how you continue to overcome the failings of capitalist education as you seek to create something truly new and deeply humane.” Ayers concluded his speech by declaring that “Venezuela is poised to offer the world a new model of education—a humanizing and revolutionary model whose twin missions are enlightenment and liberation,” and then, as in days of old, raised his fist and chanted: “Viva Presidente Chávez! Viva la Revolucion Bolivariana! Hasta la Victoria Siempre!”
As I have shown in previous articles in City Journal, Ayers’s school reform agenda focuses almost exclusively on the idea of teaching for “social justice” in the classroom. This has nothing to do with the social-justice ideals of the Sermon on the Mount or Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Rather, Ayers and his education school comrades are explicit about the need to indoctrinate public school children with the belief that America is a racist, militarist country and that the capitalist system is inherently unfair and oppressive. As a leader of this growing “reform” movement, Ayers was recently elected vice president for curriculum of the American Education Research Association, the nation’s largest organization of ed school professors and researchers.
Despite the Times story, American voters still don’t have an accurate picture of the relationship between Obama and Ayers during their work on the Annenberg Challenge. The paper’s account quoted several people who worked on the project as saying that they didn’t think Ayers had any role in selecting Obama for his position as chairman. But we haven’t heard a word about the subject from the two principals. For the first time in his life, Ayers seems to be observing Democratic Party discipline and won’t be talking until after November 4. Meanwhile, in one of the Democratic primary debates, Obama said that Ayers was just “a guy I know in the neighborhood”—which certainly qualifies as one of the biggest fibs told by any of the candidates so far.
Is it too much to hope that one of the moderators of the two remaining debates will press Obama for a fuller accounting of his work with Bill Ayers on the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, and also ask Obama what he thinks of Ayers’s views on school reform? If the mainstream media deem it important that voters know which newspapers one of the vice presidential candidates reads, they certainly ought to be demanding more information from a presidential candidate about whom he collaborated with in distributing $160 million to the public schools. How about it, Tom Brokaw?
Sol Stern is a contributing editor of City Journal and the author of Breaking Free: Public School Lessons and the Imperative of School Choice.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Joe Biden Gone?
First, read my previous post about Joe Biden being replaced by Hillary Clinton...that's what this is all about...now this comes out today referring to the same thing I posted a few days ago...I find it very funny. :)
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/24/biden-dropping-out-rumor-thrives-on-internet/
Biden Dropping Out? Rumor Thrives on Internet
It’s almost certainly just a case of the telephone game gone high-tech, but there’s an Internet rumor surging through inboxes and discussion boards that Joe Biden will drop out as Barack Obama’s running mate after his Oct. 2 debate with Sarah Palin — and that he’ll be replaced by Hillary Clinton on the Democratic presidential ticket.
The story line goes as follows: John McCain’s selection of Palin has generated so much interest in the Republican ticket that Obama needs to make a radical move to regain momentum. So in the days after the vice presidential candidates debate in Missouri, Biden will bow out, citing “health problems” (Biden underwent surgery in 1988 to repair two brain aneurysms). Enter Clinton.
Furthermore, the story goes, any damage the gaffe-prone Biden does during the debate will be erased by his abrupt exit.
It sounds like a job for Fight the Smears, the Web site the Obama campaign set up to quash damaging Internet rumors. But Fight the Smears hasn’t touched this one, perhaps out of fear that it would only further a wild rumor. The Obama campaign has not commented on it, other than to say that Biden’s medical records will be released soon.
Snopes.com, a site devoted to picking apart online rumors and urban legends, has labeled the status of the claim “undetermined.” Several online discussion boards have been loaded up with denials.
Biden has caused a few hiccups for the Obama campaign. On Monday, he had to issue a clarification after he called one of his own campaign ads “terrible” in an interview with CBS News. He also faced a rebuke from Obama after he spoke out against the government bailout of American International Group last week before Obama was ready to take a position.
On Tuesday, he said that President Franklin Roosevelt had gone on television in 1929 to discuss the Wall Street crash (Herbert Hoover was president in 1929 and the TV hadn’t been invented yet).
At one point, he even said Hillary Clinton might have been a better pick for Obama’s No. 2.
The Republican National Committee has gleefully set up a Biden “gaffe clock” to monitor his rhetorical flubs on the campaign trail.
Nonetheless, Democratic supporters dismiss outright any speculation that he might be dropped from the ticket.
“It’s crazy. … It’s just not gonna happen,” Democratic strategist Bob Beckel said.
Dropping Biden from the ticket would be a throwback to George McGovern’s shocker in 1972, when he replaced running mate Thomas Eagleton after it was learned that Eagleton had undergone electro-shock therapy for depression.
McGovern lost to President Nixon in a landslide, suggesting that seventh-inning lineup changes are not the best strategy for presidential candidates who want to shake things up.
Speaking hypothetically, Beckel said that, if it were to happen, the Democratic National Committee could feasibly call a mini-convention of sorts to confirm a new running mate. He also said “it would be so disruptive” that it would make no sense for Obama to pursue such a change.
Deadlines have passed in some states to send absentee ballots to military personnel and civilian voters overseas — meaning they would have received a ballot already with Biden (and Palin) on their parties’ tickets.
“I doubt it,” said Christopher Hull, presidential scholar and adjunct government professor at Georgetown University, when told of the Biden rumor. “Joe Biden is not that big a liability. Joe Biden was arguably the most experienced candidate in the [Democratic primary] race.”
“Joe Biden, of course, has shot off his mouth and gotten himself in trouble,” he added. “It’s Joe Biden we’re talking about.”
Though Obama lost ground in the polls after McCain tapped Palin to be his running mate, he has recently regained some of that footing. The FOX News Opinion Dynamics Poll on Wednesday gave Obama a 6-point lead, and a Washington Post-ABC News poll put his lead at 9 points. The Gallup daily tracking poll gave the Democrat a 3-point lead.
Hull said he would understand the desire to put Clinton on the ticket if Obama were persistently trailing in the polls.
A recent Associated Press-Yahoo News poll showed former Clinton backers are still reluctant to support Obama. The survey showed just 58 percent of them back him - unchanged since a similar poll in June.
But Hull said he doesn’t sense panic in the Obama ranks.
“I don’t think the Obama campaign was panicking even when the rest of the Democrats were panicking,” he said.
Obama, meanwhile, is standing by his man.
“Joe Biden is also an outstanding public servant and I am very proud of the choice that I made,” he told NBC’s “Today Show” in an interview that aired Tuesday. He said he’s a “great admirer of Senator Clinton’s” and he hopes she remains a “close adviser.”
And Biden is dutifully living up to his role as attack dog.
“Time and again, on the most critical national security issues of our time, John McCain’s judgment has simply been wrong,” the Delaware senator said Wednesday in Cincinnati.
Biden has campaigned all over the country for Obama, hitting long-shot states like Montana as well as key battlegrounds like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and Michigan. He’s largely hitting working-class towns, especially in the Midwest.
Though Snopes.com ruled the validity of the dropout rumor was “undetermined,” the write-up did cast serious doubt on the idea that Obama would dump the Senate veteran who seemed to fill in Obama’s perceived foreign policy gap.
“It’s difficult to definitely prove a negative, but rumors of Biden’s replacement as a VP candidate seem to be nothing more than e-mail chatter at this point,” the site said. “Whatever boost Barack Obama’s campaign might conceivably gain by swapping Joe Biden for Hillary Clinton just a month before the general election might also be more than offset by criticism that such a last-minute switch demonstrated poor decision-making ability and was indicative of a weak and vacillating presidential candidate.”
~FoxNews.com, by Judson Berger
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/24/biden-dropping-out-rumor-thrives-on-internet/
Biden Dropping Out? Rumor Thrives on Internet
It’s almost certainly just a case of the telephone game gone high-tech, but there’s an Internet rumor surging through inboxes and discussion boards that Joe Biden will drop out as Barack Obama’s running mate after his Oct. 2 debate with Sarah Palin — and that he’ll be replaced by Hillary Clinton on the Democratic presidential ticket.
The story line goes as follows: John McCain’s selection of Palin has generated so much interest in the Republican ticket that Obama needs to make a radical move to regain momentum. So in the days after the vice presidential candidates debate in Missouri, Biden will bow out, citing “health problems” (Biden underwent surgery in 1988 to repair two brain aneurysms). Enter Clinton.
Furthermore, the story goes, any damage the gaffe-prone Biden does during the debate will be erased by his abrupt exit.
It sounds like a job for Fight the Smears, the Web site the Obama campaign set up to quash damaging Internet rumors. But Fight the Smears hasn’t touched this one, perhaps out of fear that it would only further a wild rumor. The Obama campaign has not commented on it, other than to say that Biden’s medical records will be released soon.
Snopes.com, a site devoted to picking apart online rumors and urban legends, has labeled the status of the claim “undetermined.” Several online discussion boards have been loaded up with denials.
Biden has caused a few hiccups for the Obama campaign. On Monday, he had to issue a clarification after he called one of his own campaign ads “terrible” in an interview with CBS News. He also faced a rebuke from Obama after he spoke out against the government bailout of American International Group last week before Obama was ready to take a position.
On Tuesday, he said that President Franklin Roosevelt had gone on television in 1929 to discuss the Wall Street crash (Herbert Hoover was president in 1929 and the TV hadn’t been invented yet).
At one point, he even said Hillary Clinton might have been a better pick for Obama’s No. 2.
The Republican National Committee has gleefully set up a Biden “gaffe clock” to monitor his rhetorical flubs on the campaign trail.
Nonetheless, Democratic supporters dismiss outright any speculation that he might be dropped from the ticket.
“It’s crazy. … It’s just not gonna happen,” Democratic strategist Bob Beckel said.
Dropping Biden from the ticket would be a throwback to George McGovern’s shocker in 1972, when he replaced running mate Thomas Eagleton after it was learned that Eagleton had undergone electro-shock therapy for depression.
McGovern lost to President Nixon in a landslide, suggesting that seventh-inning lineup changes are not the best strategy for presidential candidates who want to shake things up.
Speaking hypothetically, Beckel said that, if it were to happen, the Democratic National Committee could feasibly call a mini-convention of sorts to confirm a new running mate. He also said “it would be so disruptive” that it would make no sense for Obama to pursue such a change.
Deadlines have passed in some states to send absentee ballots to military personnel and civilian voters overseas — meaning they would have received a ballot already with Biden (and Palin) on their parties’ tickets.
“I doubt it,” said Christopher Hull, presidential scholar and adjunct government professor at Georgetown University, when told of the Biden rumor. “Joe Biden is not that big a liability. Joe Biden was arguably the most experienced candidate in the [Democratic primary] race.”
“Joe Biden, of course, has shot off his mouth and gotten himself in trouble,” he added. “It’s Joe Biden we’re talking about.”
Though Obama lost ground in the polls after McCain tapped Palin to be his running mate, he has recently regained some of that footing. The FOX News Opinion Dynamics Poll on Wednesday gave Obama a 6-point lead, and a Washington Post-ABC News poll put his lead at 9 points. The Gallup daily tracking poll gave the Democrat a 3-point lead.
Hull said he would understand the desire to put Clinton on the ticket if Obama were persistently trailing in the polls.
A recent Associated Press-Yahoo News poll showed former Clinton backers are still reluctant to support Obama. The survey showed just 58 percent of them back him - unchanged since a similar poll in June.
But Hull said he doesn’t sense panic in the Obama ranks.
“I don’t think the Obama campaign was panicking even when the rest of the Democrats were panicking,” he said.
Obama, meanwhile, is standing by his man.
“Joe Biden is also an outstanding public servant and I am very proud of the choice that I made,” he told NBC’s “Today Show” in an interview that aired Tuesday. He said he’s a “great admirer of Senator Clinton’s” and he hopes she remains a “close adviser.”
And Biden is dutifully living up to his role as attack dog.
“Time and again, on the most critical national security issues of our time, John McCain’s judgment has simply been wrong,” the Delaware senator said Wednesday in Cincinnati.
Biden has campaigned all over the country for Obama, hitting long-shot states like Montana as well as key battlegrounds like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and Michigan. He’s largely hitting working-class towns, especially in the Midwest.
Though Snopes.com ruled the validity of the dropout rumor was “undetermined,” the write-up did cast serious doubt on the idea that Obama would dump the Senate veteran who seemed to fill in Obama’s perceived foreign policy gap.
“It’s difficult to definitely prove a negative, but rumors of Biden’s replacement as a VP candidate seem to be nothing more than e-mail chatter at this point,” the site said. “Whatever boost Barack Obama’s campaign might conceivably gain by swapping Joe Biden for Hillary Clinton just a month before the general election might also be more than offset by criticism that such a last-minute switch demonstrated poor decision-making ability and was indicative of a weak and vacillating presidential candidate.”
~FoxNews.com, by Judson Berger
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Replacing Joe Biden
haha i got this email and figured...what the heck, I'll post it... ;)
The 'DEMS' know they're in big trouble since Sarah Palin and I've heard, from other sources, this is what they are planning to do about it. J.M.
...from excellent sources within the DNC:
On or about October 5th, Biden will excuse himself from the ticket, citing health problems, and he will be replaced by Hillary. This is timed to occur after the VP debate on 10/2.
I have already seen a few short blurbs about this - the 'health problem' cited in those articles was aneurysm. probably many of you have heard the same rumblings. However, at this point, with this inside info from the DNC, it looks like this Obama strategy will be a go. Therefore, it seems that the best strategy is to get out in front of this obama maneuver, spell it out in detail, and thereby expose it for the grand manipulation that it is.
So, let's start mixing this one up and cut the obamites off at the pass - send this info out to as many people as you can - post about it on websites and blogs - etc etc
Friday, September 19, 2008
obama's mama...
so a friend sent me this link for this video. I think the guy's serious, but I kept cracking up at the way he said things... If this stuff is true, not sure why a preacher would spend so much time on it. Oh well, it is entertaining...
Online Videos by Veoh.com
Online Videos by Veoh.com
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Obama is an Idiot
This is too funny for several reasons.
1 - Obama comparing himself to a VP candidate. I mean, isn't he running for Pres. of the US? Not VP...
2 - He says he has more executive experience than a Governor just because he has a large campaign...
3 - His numbers for comparison are ludicrous. I mean, does he think she was a mayor, not a governor?
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/02/obama-i-have-more-executive-experience-than-palin/
1 - Obama comparing himself to a VP candidate. I mean, isn't he running for Pres. of the US? Not VP...
2 - He says he has more executive experience than a Governor just because he has a large campaign...
3 - His numbers for comparison are ludicrous. I mean, does he think she was a mayor, not a governor?
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/02/obama-i-have-more-executive-experience-than-palin/
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Son of Hamas Leader Turns Back on Islam and Embraces Christianity
wow...this is an interesting interview... I took it from FoxNews.com - An interview with Mosab Hassan Yousef by Jonathan Hunt
Mosab Hassan Yousef is an extraordinary young man with an extraordinary story. He was born the son of one of the most influential leaders of the militant Hamas organization in the West Bank and grew up in a strict Islamic family.
Now, at 30 years old, he attends an evangelical Christian church, Barabbas Road in San Diego, Calif. He renounced his Muslim faith, left his family behind in Ramallah and is seeking asylum in the United States.
The story of how his life unfolded is truly amazing, whether you agree or disagree with his views. Below is a transcript on an exclusive FOX News interview with Hassan as he tells firsthand how a West Bank Muslim became a West Coast Christian.
JONATHAN HUNT: Why, after 25 years, did you change?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: I believe that all those walls that Islam built for the last 1,400 years are not existing (sic) anymore. They don't recognize this. They built those walls and made people ignorant because they're afraid. They didn't want people to discuss anything about the reality of Islam, about the big questions of Islam and they asked their followers, the Muslims, 'Don't ask about those certain questions.'
But now, people have media. If the father closes the door for his daughter not to leave the house, she's going to go behind her computer and travel the world. So people easily can get information, knowledge, searching (sic) engines, so it's very, very available for everybody to study about Islam, about other religions. Not from the Islam point of view, but from other points of view.
So for the next 25 years this is for sure going to make huge change in the Muslim and the Arab world.
JONATHAN HUNT: You speak from a unique perspective, a man who grew up not just in an Islamic family but as part of an organization seen by many people around the world as an extreme force in Islam: Hamas. What is the reality of Islam? You say people don't see the reality; What is the reality of Islam?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: There are two facts that Muslims don't understand ... I'd say about more than 95 percent of Muslims don't understand their own religion. It came with a much stronger language than the language that they speak so they don't understand it ... they rely only on religious people to get their knowledge about this religion.
Second, they don't understand anything about other religions. Christian communities live between Muslims and they're minority and they (would) rather not to go speak out and tell people about Jesus because it's dangerous for them.
So, all their ideas about other religions on earth are from Islamic perspectives. So those two realities, most people don't understand.
If people, if Muslims, start to understand their religion — first of all, their religion — and see how awful stuff is in there, they'll start to figure out, this can't (be) ... because most religious people focus on certain points of Islam. They have many points that they are very embarrassed to talk about.
JONATHAN HUNT: Such as?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Such as Muhammad's wives. You will never go to a mosque and hear about anyone talking about Muhammad's wives, which is like more than 50 wives — and nobody knows (this), by the way. If you ask the majority of Muslims, they will not know this fact.
So they're embarrassed to talk about this, but they talk about the glory of Islam, they talk about the victory, the victories that Muhammad made. So, when people just like look at themselves and see they're defeated, they have ignorance, they're not educated, they're not leading the world as they're expected to do. They’re think they want to get back to that victory by doing the same, what Muhammad did, but disregarding (sic) the timing. They forget that this happened 1,400 years ago and it's not going to happen again.
JONATHAN HUNT: Do they want to destroy Christianity?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Islam destroyed Christianity from the beginning and Muslims don't recognize that they stabbed Christianity (in) its heart when they said that Jesus wasn't killed on the cross. They think that they honor him in this way.
Basically, any Christians understand that this way, (but Muslims) tell Jesus, okay, we don't care, you didn't die for us. Someone sacrificed his life for you, (but) you tell him, okay, you didn't do it!
This is what Muslims are doing basically. But they don't understand that this is the most important part of Christianity: the cross!
So, they are ignorant, they don't know what they are doing and it explains what an evil idea it is behind this Islam.
JONATHAN HUNT: What specific event or events began to change your mind about Islam?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Since I was a child I started to ask very difficult questions, even my family was telling me all the time, 'You're a very difficult person and we were having trouble answering your questions. Why are you asking so many questions?' This was from the beginning, to be honest with you.
But I felt that everybody — and my father was a good example for me because he was a very honest, humble person, very nice to my mother, to us, and raised us on the principle of forgiveness, okay? I thought that everybody in Islam was like this.
When I was 18 years old, and I was arrested by the Israelis and was in an Israeli jail under the Israeli administration, Hamas had control of its members inside the jail and I saw their torture; (they were) torturing people in a very, very bad way.
JONATHAN HUNT: Hamas members torturing other Hamas members?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Hamas leaders! Hamas leaders that we see on TV now, and big leaders, responsible for torturing their own members. They didn't torture me, but that was a shock for me, to see them torturing people: putting needles under their nails, burning their bodies. And they killed lots of them.
JONATHAN HUNT: Why were they torturing people?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Because they suspected that they had relations with the Israelis and (were) co-operating with the Israeli occupation against Hamas ... So hundreds of people were victims for this, and I was a witness for about a year for this torture. So that was a huge change in my life. I started to open my (eyes), but, the point (is) that I got that there are good Muslims and bad Muslims. Good Muslims, such as my father, and bad Muslims, like those Hamas members in the jail torturing people.
So that was the beginning of opening my eyes wide.
JONATHAN HUNT: You talk about the good Muslims, like your father, yet you still now renounce the faith of your father. Could you have not been a good Muslim?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Now, here's the reality: after I studied Christianity — which I had a big misunderstanding about, because I studied about Christianity from Islam, which is, there is nothing true about Christianity when you study it from Islam, and that was the only source.
When I studied the Bible carefully verse by verse, I made sure that that was the book of God, the word of God for sure, so I started to see things in a different way, which was difficult for me, to say Islam is wrong.
Islam is my father. I grew up for (one) father — 22 years for that father — and another father came to me and told me, 'I'm sorry, I'm your father.' And I was like, 'What are you talking about? Like, I have my own father, and it's Islam!' And the father of Christianity told me, 'No, I'm your father. I was in jail, and this (Islam) is not your father.'
So basically this is what happened. It's not easy to believe this (Islam) is not your father anymore. So I had to study Islam again from a different point of view to figure out all the mistakes, the huge mistakes and its effects, not only on Muslims — (of) which I hated the values ... I didn't like all those traditions that make people's lives more difficult — but its effects also on humanity. On humanity! People killing each other (in) the name of God.
So definitely I started to figure out the problem is Islam, not the Muslims and those people — I can't hate them because God loved them from the beginning. And God doesn't create junk. God created good people that he loved, but they're sick, they have the wrong idea. I don't hate those people anymore but I feel very sorry for them and the only way for them to be changed (is) by knowing the word of God and the real way to him.
JONATHAN HUNT: Does it worry you that in saying these things — and given your background and your words carrying extra weight — there is a danger that you will increase the difficulties, the hatred between Christians and Muslims in the world right now?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: This could happen if a Christian person will go talk to them about the reality of Islam. They put Christians on the enemy list anyway, before you talk to them about Islam. So if you go to them and tell them, as a Christian, they will be offended immediately and they will hate you and this will definitely increase the vacuum between both religions — but what made someone like me change?
Years ago, years ago, when I was there, God opened my eyes, my mind also, and I became a completely different person. So now, I can do this duty, while you as Christians can help me do it, but maybe you wouldn't be able to. (Muslims) have no excuse now.
JONATHAN HUNT: How difficult a process has this been for you to effectively walk away from your family, leave your home behind? How difficult is that?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Taking your skin off your bones, that's what happened. I love my family, they love me. And my little brothers, they’re like my sons. I raised them. Basically, it was the biggest decision in my life.
I left everything behind me, not only family. When you decide to convert to Christianity or any other religion from Islam, it's not (enough) to just say goodbye and leave, you know? It's not like that. You're saying goodbye to culture, civilization, traditions, society, family, religion, God — what you thought was God for so many years! So it's not easy. It's very complicated. People think it's that easy, like it doesn't matter. Now I'm here in the U.S. and I got my freedom and it's great, but at the same time, nothing is like family, you know. To lose your family —
JONATHAN HUNT: Have you lost your family?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: My family is educated and it was very difficult for them. They asked me many times, especially for the first two days, to keep my faith to myself and not go to the media and announce it.
But for me it was a duty from God to announce his name and praise him (around) the world because my reward is going to be that he's going to do the same for me. So I did it, basically, as a duty. I (wonder) how many people can do what I can do today? I didn't find any.
So, I had to be strong about that. That was very challenging. That was the most difficult decision in my life and I didn't do it for fun. I didn't do it for anything from this world. I did it only for one reason: I believed in it. People are suffering every day because of wrong ideas. I can help them get out of this endless circle ... the track the devil (laid) for them.
JONATHAN HUNT: Have you spoken to your father recently?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: There is no chance to communicate with my father because he's in jail now and there is (sic) no phones in the jail to communicate with him.
JONATHAN HUNT: Have other members of your family told you how he's reacted?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: They've visited him from time to time. Till this moment, I don't know his reaction exactly but I'm sure he's very sad (over) a decision like this. But at the same time, he's going to understand, because he knows me and he knows that I don't make any decisions without (believing strongly in them).
JONATHAN HUNT: Is it making his life more difficult among fellow Hamas members?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Definitely. My family, including my father, had to carry this cross with me. It wasn't their choice. It was my choice, but they had to carry this cross with me and I ask God — I pray for (my father), all my brothers and my sisters here in this church, praying all the time for them — 'God, open their eyes, their minds, to come to Christ. And bless them because they had to carry this cross with me.'
JONATHAN HUNT: Tell me about Hamas and the way it works. Is Hamas a purely Islamic religious organization as you see it, and that's where, in your eyes, its faults lie, or are there other parts of it which are a problem for you? Or is Hamas a good organization? What is Hamas to you?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: If we talk about people, there are good people everywhere. Everywhere. I mean, good people that God created.
Do they do their own things? Yes, they do their own things. I know people who support Hamas but they never got involved in terrorist attacks, for example ... They follow Hamas because they love God and they think that Hamas represents God. They don’t have knowledge, they don't know the real God and they never studied Christianity. But Hamas, as representative for Islam, it's a big problem.
The problem is not Hamas, the problem is not people. The root of the problem is Islam itself as an idea, as an idea. And about Hamas as an organization, of course, the Hamas leadership, including my father, they're responsible; they're responsible for all the violence that happened from the organization. I know they describe it as reaction to Israeli aggression, but still, they are part of it and they had to make decisions in those operations against
JONATHAN HUNT: Do you believe Israel blameless in the conflict?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Occupation is bad. I can't say Israel — I'm not against any nation. We can't say Israelis, we can't say Palestinians, we're talking about ideas. Israel has the right to defend itself, nobody can (argue) against this. But sometimes they use (too much) aggression against civilians. Sometimes many civilians were killed because those soldiers weren't responsible enough, how they treat people at the checkpoints.
My message even to the Israeli soldiers: at least treat people in a good way at the checkpoints. You don't have to look really bad and it's not about nations, it's about just wrong ideas on both sides and the only way for two nations really to get out of the endless circle is to know the principles that Jesus brought to this earth: grace, love, forgiveness. Without this, they will never be able to move on, or break this endless circle.
JONATHAN HUNT: You've seen your father jailed, you've been in prison yourself. You've seen Hamas carry out acts of terror against Israelis, and yet you say everybody needs to rise above that?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Definitely. This is the only choice. Nobody has magic power to do something for the Middle East. No one. You can ask any politician here in the U.S., you can ask any Palestinian politician or Arab politician, Israeli leaders; no one, no one can do anything. Even if they believe in peace now: they're part of the game.
They're part of the trick. They can't, even if you find a brave person, like Rabin, who was called by an Israeli to make peace with the Palestinians and give them a state, no one, even if you find a strong leader, they can't do this. You can't force an independent country to give another country independence. (Especially when) the other country wants to destroy it.
Everybody is hurt. Israeli soldiers, they lost their friends. Palestinians, they lost their children, their fathers. (There are) many people in prison still, and many people were killed. Thousands. So everybody will never forget this. If they want to keep looking to the past, they will never get out of this circle. The only way to start (is just by) moving on. They were born under the occupation as Palestinians.
The last two generations, it's not their choice. The new generations from Israel — if we say disregarding the existence of Israel is right or wrong, what's the guilt of those people who were born in Israel and they have no other country to go to? It's their country now, that's how they see it. And they are going to keep their resistance and defense against whomever. (They will) say, 'Get out of this land!' So the only way is for both nations to start to understand the grace, love and forgiveness of God, to be able to get out of this.
JONATHAN HUNT: Do you believe that Israel can ever strike a peace deal with Hamas?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: There is no chance. Is there any chance for fire to co-exist with the water? There is no chance. Hamas can play politics for 10 years, 15 years; but ask any one of Hamas' leaders, 'Okay, what's going to happen after that? Are you just going to live and co-exist with Israel forever?' The answer is going to be no ... unless they want to do something against the Koran. But it's their ideology and they can't just say 'We're not going to do it.' So there is no chance. It's not about Israel, it's not about Hamas: it's about both ideologies. There is no chance.
JONATHAN HUNT: Aren't you terrified that somebody is going to try to kill you for saying these things — which would be approved of according to parts of the Koran?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: They got to kill my ideas first, (and) that's it, they're already out. So how are they going to kill my idea? How are they going to kill the opinions that I have? ... They can kill my body, but they can't kill my soul.
JONATHAN HUNT: You're not afraid?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: As a human, you know, I can be very brave now, I'm not thinking about it at this moment and I feel that God is on my side. But if this will be the challenge, I ask God to give me enough strength.
JONATHAN HUNT: Have you been threatened?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: No, not really. Honestly, most Muslims and Muslim leaders here in the U.S. community, European communities, they are trying to get ahold of me. They are calling my famiily, my mother, and asking for my contacts. They are telling her, 'We want to help him.'
JONATHAN HUNT: They think you need help?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Yeah, they think that Christians took advantage of me, and this is completely wrong. I've been a Christian for a long time before they knew, or anyone knew. I love Jesus, I followed him for many years now. It wasn't a secret for most of the time, and this time I just did it to glorify the name of God and praise him.
They're not dealing with a regular Muslim. They know that I'm educated, they know that I studied, they know that I studied Islam and Christianity. When I made my decision, I didn't make it because someone did magic on me or convinced me. It was completely my decision.
JONATHAN HUNT: Do you miss Ramallah?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Definitely. You've been there and you know how a wonderful country (it is). Very, very beautiful. It's a very small spot and it has everything — this is why people are fighting for that piece of land. I definitely miss Ramallah. Jereusalem. The Old City.
JONATHAN HUNT: Do you believe you will ever be able to go back?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: I think I belong to that land, and sooner or later I'm going to go back, no matter what. If they want to kill me, they (will) do whatever they want to do. I have a family there, they love me, they completely support me now with my decisions. Maybe they don't want me to talk to the media but they believe that I made a decision that I completely believe in. So they support me, so I love my family. I'm going to go back there again one day. I love my town.
JONATHAN HUNT: Do you think you'll ever go back to a Middle East living in peace?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: There will be a 100-person peace when Jesus comes back, when he judges everybody. His kingdom's going to be 1,000 years and it's going to be completely peaceful and it's going to be the kingdom of God.
JONATHAN HUNT: What is your basic message to any Muslim listening to this right now?
MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: My message to them is, first of all, to open their minds. They were born to Muslim families — this is how they got Islam and this is just like ... any other religion, like growing up (in) a Christian family, or growing up (in) a Jewish family.
So my point is that I want those people to open their eyes, their minds, to start to understand and imagine that they weren't born for a Muslim famiily. And use their minds.
Why did God give them minds? Open their hearts. Read the Bible. Study their religion. I want to open the gate for them, I want them to be free. They will find a good life on earth just by following God — and they're also going to guarantee the other life.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Some cool survival information for you...or maybe more of cool general information for you
So, I was browsing around the web today, as I like to do every once in a while, and found some cool information. Neat survival type stuff - actually just interesting, handy stuff. I thought I'd share with you...enjoy.
How to Tell Time Without a Clock
Find True North Without a Compass
Predicting the Weather
Calculating the Distance of Lightning
Anyway, some cool stuff...and there's a lot more on that site...
How to Tell Time Without a Clock
Find True North Without a Compass
Predicting the Weather
Calculating the Distance of Lightning
Anyway, some cool stuff...and there's a lot more on that site...
Monday, July 28, 2008
cuil.com....ummmmm
OK, so I've been messing around with cuil.com for a little bit, or at least trying to. Cuil is the supposed google killer (it isn't/won't be) and got a chunk of change ($33M) to start up. At least I think those facts are right...doesn't really matter, because it doesn't work. Actually I'm really hoping the problems I am having with it are because everyone in the world is using it...not because it sucks. It does look cool, however, when I searched for something simple like "blackberry bold" (which is the new RIM phone coming out that everyone wants and really should be the iPhone killer - again, lots of hype) i get squat...
Oh well, I would think since it's public now, cuil would be able to find anything and everything. Maybe there is still a little room on their new indexing model. I guess I'll attempt using it a couple more days and if no improvements, then I'll just have to keep googling everything...instead of cuiling it. Gosh it's getting hot in here...
Oh well, I would think since it's public now, cuil would be able to find anything and everything. Maybe there is still a little room on their new indexing model. I guess I'll attempt using it a couple more days and if no improvements, then I'll just have to keep googling everything...instead of cuiling it. Gosh it's getting hot in here...
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Obama
interesting articles about one of the guys running for President of the US.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121443823260805375.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121435112024101581.html?mod=fpa_mostpop
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121443823260805375.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121435112024101581.html?mod=fpa_mostpop
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
The Obama We Don't Know
I read this on the wall street journal and found it to be an interesting perspective...Now that Obama has won the nomination, it will be interesting to see how he campaigns for the country (being one of the most liberal senators in the senate). Just thought I'd share...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121254834844844045.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
The Obama We Don't Know
June 4, 2008; Page A20
With Barack Obama clinching the Democratic Party nomination, it is worth noting what an extraordinary moment this is. Democrats are nominating a freshman Senator barely three years out of the Illinois legislature whom most of America still hardly knows. The polls say he is the odds-on favorite to become our next President.
Think about this in historical context. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were relatively unknown, but both had at least been prominent Governors. John Kerry, Walter Mondale, Al Gore and even George McGovern were all long-time Washington figures. Republican nominees tend to be even more familiar, for better or worse. In Mr. Obama, Democrats are taking a leap of faith that is daring even by their risky standards.
[The Obama We Don't Know]
AP
No doubt this is part of his enormous appeal. Amid public anger over politics as usual, the Illinois Senator is unhaunted by Beltway experience. His personal story – of mixed race, and up from nowhere through Harvard – resonates in an America where the two most popular cultural icons are Tiger Woods and Oprah. His political gifts are formidable, especially his ability to connect with audiences from the platform.
Above all, Mr. Obama has fashioned a message that fits the political moment and the public's desire for "change." At his best, he offers Americans tired of war and political rancor the promise of fresh national unity and purpose. Young people in particular are taken by it. But more than a few Republicans are also drawn to this "postpartisan" vision.
Mr. Obama has also shown great skill in running his campaign. No one – including us – gave him much chance of defeating the Clinton machine. No doubt he benefited from the desire of even many Democrats to impeach the polarizing Clinton era. But he also beat Hillary and Bill at their own game. He raised more money, and he outworked them in the small-state caucuses that provided him with his narrow delegate margin. Even now, he is far better organized in swing states than is John McCain's campaign. All of this speaks well of his preparation for November, and perhaps for his potential to govern.
Yet govern how and to what end? This is the Obama Americans don't know. For all of his inspiring rhetoric about bipartisanship, his voting record is among the most partisan in the Senate. His policy agenda is conventionally liberal across the board – more so than Hillary Clinton's, and more so than that of any Democratic nominee since 1968.
We can't find a single issue on which Mr. Obama has broken with his party's left-wing interest groups. Early on he gave a bow to merit pay for teachers, but that quickly sank beneath the waves of new money he wants to spend on the same broken public schools. He takes the Teamsters line against free trade, to the point of unilaterally rewriting Nafta. He wants to raise taxes even above the levels of the Clinton era, including a huge increase in the payroll tax. Perhaps now Mr. Obama will tack to the center, but somehow he will have to explain why the "change" he's proposing isn't merely more of the same, circa 1965.
There is also the matter of judgment, and the roots of his political character. We were among those inclined at first to downplay his association with the Trinity United Church. But Mr. Obama's handling of the episode has raised doubts about his candor and convictions. He has by stages moved from denying that his 20-year attendance was an issue at all; to denying he'd heard Rev. Jeremiah Wright's incendiary remarks; to criticizing certain of those remarks while praising Rev. Wright himself; to repudiating the words and the reverend; and finally this weekend to leaving the church.
Most disingenuously, he said on Saturday that the entire issue caught him by surprise. Yet he was aware enough of the political risk that he kept Rev. Wright off the stage during his announcement speech more than a year ago.
A 2004 Chicago Sun-Times interview with Mr. Obama mentioned three men as his religious guides. One was Rev. Wright. Another was Father Michael Pfleger, the Louis Farrakhan ally whose recent remarks caused Mr. Obama to resign from Trinity, but for whose Chicago church Mr. Obama channeled at least $225,000 in grants as a state senator. Until recently, the priest was connected to the campaign, which flew him to Iowa to host an interfaith forum. Father Pfleger's testimony for the candidate has since been scrubbed from Mr. Obama's campaign Web site. A third mentor was Illinois state Senator James Meeks, another Chicago pastor who has generated controversy for mixing pulpit and politics.
The point is not that Mr. Obama now shares the radical views of these men. The concern is that by the Senator's own admission they have been major moral influences, and their views are starkly at odds with the candidate's vision as a transracial peacemaker. Their patronage was also useful as Mr. Obama was making his way in Chicago politics. But only now, in the glare of a national campaign, is he distancing himself from them. The question is what in fact Mr. Obama does believe.
The young Senator has been a supernova exploding into our politics, more phenomenon than conventional candidate. His achievement in winning the Democratic nomination has been impressive. Now comes a harder audience. The presidency has to be earned, and Americans have a right to know much more about the gifted man who is the least tested and experienced major party nominee in modern times.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121254834844844045.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
The Obama We Don't Know
June 4, 2008; Page A20
With Barack Obama clinching the Democratic Party nomination, it is worth noting what an extraordinary moment this is. Democrats are nominating a freshman Senator barely three years out of the Illinois legislature whom most of America still hardly knows. The polls say he is the odds-on favorite to become our next President.
Think about this in historical context. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were relatively unknown, but both had at least been prominent Governors. John Kerry, Walter Mondale, Al Gore and even George McGovern were all long-time Washington figures. Republican nominees tend to be even more familiar, for better or worse. In Mr. Obama, Democrats are taking a leap of faith that is daring even by their risky standards.
[The Obama We Don't Know]
AP
No doubt this is part of his enormous appeal. Amid public anger over politics as usual, the Illinois Senator is unhaunted by Beltway experience. His personal story – of mixed race, and up from nowhere through Harvard – resonates in an America where the two most popular cultural icons are Tiger Woods and Oprah. His political gifts are formidable, especially his ability to connect with audiences from the platform.
Above all, Mr. Obama has fashioned a message that fits the political moment and the public's desire for "change." At his best, he offers Americans tired of war and political rancor the promise of fresh national unity and purpose. Young people in particular are taken by it. But more than a few Republicans are also drawn to this "postpartisan" vision.
Mr. Obama has also shown great skill in running his campaign. No one – including us – gave him much chance of defeating the Clinton machine. No doubt he benefited from the desire of even many Democrats to impeach the polarizing Clinton era. But he also beat Hillary and Bill at their own game. He raised more money, and he outworked them in the small-state caucuses that provided him with his narrow delegate margin. Even now, he is far better organized in swing states than is John McCain's campaign. All of this speaks well of his preparation for November, and perhaps for his potential to govern.
Yet govern how and to what end? This is the Obama Americans don't know. For all of his inspiring rhetoric about bipartisanship, his voting record is among the most partisan in the Senate. His policy agenda is conventionally liberal across the board – more so than Hillary Clinton's, and more so than that of any Democratic nominee since 1968.
We can't find a single issue on which Mr. Obama has broken with his party's left-wing interest groups. Early on he gave a bow to merit pay for teachers, but that quickly sank beneath the waves of new money he wants to spend on the same broken public schools. He takes the Teamsters line against free trade, to the point of unilaterally rewriting Nafta. He wants to raise taxes even above the levels of the Clinton era, including a huge increase in the payroll tax. Perhaps now Mr. Obama will tack to the center, but somehow he will have to explain why the "change" he's proposing isn't merely more of the same, circa 1965.
There is also the matter of judgment, and the roots of his political character. We were among those inclined at first to downplay his association with the Trinity United Church. But Mr. Obama's handling of the episode has raised doubts about his candor and convictions. He has by stages moved from denying that his 20-year attendance was an issue at all; to denying he'd heard Rev. Jeremiah Wright's incendiary remarks; to criticizing certain of those remarks while praising Rev. Wright himself; to repudiating the words and the reverend; and finally this weekend to leaving the church.
Most disingenuously, he said on Saturday that the entire issue caught him by surprise. Yet he was aware enough of the political risk that he kept Rev. Wright off the stage during his announcement speech more than a year ago.
A 2004 Chicago Sun-Times interview with Mr. Obama mentioned three men as his religious guides. One was Rev. Wright. Another was Father Michael Pfleger, the Louis Farrakhan ally whose recent remarks caused Mr. Obama to resign from Trinity, but for whose Chicago church Mr. Obama channeled at least $225,000 in grants as a state senator. Until recently, the priest was connected to the campaign, which flew him to Iowa to host an interfaith forum. Father Pfleger's testimony for the candidate has since been scrubbed from Mr. Obama's campaign Web site. A third mentor was Illinois state Senator James Meeks, another Chicago pastor who has generated controversy for mixing pulpit and politics.
The point is not that Mr. Obama now shares the radical views of these men. The concern is that by the Senator's own admission they have been major moral influences, and their views are starkly at odds with the candidate's vision as a transracial peacemaker. Their patronage was also useful as Mr. Obama was making his way in Chicago politics. But only now, in the glare of a national campaign, is he distancing himself from them. The question is what in fact Mr. Obama does believe.
The young Senator has been a supernova exploding into our politics, more phenomenon than conventional candidate. His achievement in winning the Democratic nomination has been impressive. Now comes a harder audience. The presidency has to be earned, and Americans have a right to know much more about the gifted man who is the least tested and experienced major party nominee in modern times.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
The Top 10 Microsoft YouTube Videos
These are hilarious!!! Especially the last one...
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/20555?nwwpkg=microsoft?ap1=rcb
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/20555?nwwpkg=microsoft?ap1=rcb
Monday, May 26, 2008
Scratched CD or DVD? No Problem
I found this video on popular science...very cool info and it works! :) enjoy...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Flying Fish
How cool is this..??? A video of a flying fish that stayed above water for 45 seconds....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7410421.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7410421.stm
Monday, April 07, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Maybe dad's right...
So, somking really isn't such a big deal. Compared to using cell phones. Read this hahaha.
Pretty soon, the truth websites will have to start doing commercials against calling your friends...so, instead of carrying my BlackBerry around, I guess I should trade it in for some Camel Lights. Actually, I think I'll just carry both around....maybe they'll counteract each other...hahahah
Pretty soon, the truth websites will have to start doing commercials against calling your friends...so, instead of carrying my BlackBerry around, I guess I should trade it in for some Camel Lights. Actually, I think I'll just carry both around....maybe they'll counteract each other...hahahah
Monday, March 24, 2008
Thursday, February 07, 2008
i bet this report about barnacle penises makes your day...
so reading through foxnews, i come across a story on the main page...about barnacles. And their penises.
This, on a day that Mitt Romney bows out of the Presidential race, Hillary & Obama each raise $3M in 24 hours, a crazy man shoots his wife at school in front of everyone then goes home and kills himself, a boy found in a field from a tornado & a girl who was shot trying to help her mom leaves the hospital and is ok.
Seriously, why would barnacle penises make the main headlines. I mean, why wouldn't they also put on the main page something goofy like "Tom Jones insures his chest hairs."
Oh wait...they did...video no less.
This, on a day that Mitt Romney bows out of the Presidential race, Hillary & Obama each raise $3M in 24 hours, a crazy man shoots his wife at school in front of everyone then goes home and kills himself, a boy found in a field from a tornado & a girl who was shot trying to help her mom leaves the hospital and is ok.
Seriously, why would barnacle penises make the main headlines. I mean, why wouldn't they also put on the main page something goofy like "Tom Jones insures his chest hairs."
Oh wait...they did...video no less.
Monday, February 04, 2008
chuck and huck
well today was fun...some of us from the office went and saw mike huckabee and chuck norris...!!! check out the pics and vote for huck!!! see more pics on my facebook...
Friday, January 25, 2008
I'm sure you know of this by now...hopefully...
that several Scientology docs are available for a good read (chuckle chuckle) due to their servers being hacked. If you haven't heard of this...well, read these links... and d/L the docs...
Hackers Declare War on Scientology
Holy Xenu! Scientology documents hacked and released to the public! Download them now!
Scientology hacked by /i/, documents leaked
...
Hackers Declare War on Scientology
Holy Xenu! Scientology documents hacked and released to the public! Download them now!
Scientology hacked by /i/, documents leaked
...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
You know it's a slow newsday when...
these are the leading headlines...
NASA Photo Shows Humanoid Figure on Mars
Mystery May Be Solved for Texas Town Abuzz Over UFO Sightings
Oh and let's not miss this one...
Virgin Galactic Unveils Spaceship Design
Hmmmm....I wonder if Virgin Galactic caused all this to get more people interested in space travel...
hahahaha
NASA Photo Shows Humanoid Figure on Mars
Mystery May Be Solved for Texas Town Abuzz Over UFO Sightings
Oh and let's not miss this one...
Virgin Galactic Unveils Spaceship Design
Hmmmm....I wonder if Virgin Galactic caused all this to get more people interested in space travel...
hahahaha
Friday, January 18, 2008
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
This is too funny!
Here's how the joke starts -
So, a polish man walks into a brothel and decides to have sex with a woman there who looks just like his wife.
Here's how it ends -
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080109/od_nm/brothel_dc_1
So, a polish man walks into a brothel and decides to have sex with a woman there who looks just like his wife.
Here's how it ends -
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080109/od_nm/brothel_dc_1
Thursday, January 03, 2008
WOW - SCARY
http://www.dnaancestryproject.com/
Singlehandedly the scariest thing I have seen in quite a while. You get to pay $100-$200 to give all your DNA information to a company to keep on file to tell you your ancestry. So, if this doesn't scare you, fine...but I know I'm not going to do it...
Singlehandedly the scariest thing I have seen in quite a while. You get to pay $100-$200 to give all your DNA information to a company to keep on file to tell you your ancestry. So, if this doesn't scare you, fine...but I know I'm not going to do it...
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Monday, December 24, 2007
Seven Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe
ok, so I totally stole this off of FoxNews.com, but it is pretty cool...I totally knew the last one b/c I do it all the time...hahahah
Reading in dim light won't damage your eyes, you don't need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy and shaving your legs won't make the hair grow back faster.
These well-worn theories are among seven "medical myths" exposed in a paper published in the British Medical Journal, which traditionally carries light-hearted features in its Christmas edition.
The research was conducted by Aaron Carroll, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, and Rachel Vreeman, fellow in children's health services research at Indiana University School of Medicine.
They took seven common beliefs and searched the archives for evidence to support them.
Despite frequent mentions in the popular press of the need to drink eight glasses of water, they found no scientific basis for the claim.
The complete lack of evidence has been recorded in a study published the American Journal of Psychology, they said.
The other six "myths" are:
Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight
The majority of eye experts believed it was unlikely to do any permanent damage, but it might make you squint, blink more and have trouble focusing, the researchers said.
Shaving makes hair grow back faster or coarser
It has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair regrowth, studies say. But stubble lacks the finer taper of unshaven hair, giving the impression of coarseness.
Eating turkey makes you drowsy
It does contain an amino acid called tryptophan that is involved in sleep and mood control.
But turkey has no more of the acid than chicken or minced beef. Eating lots of food and drink at Christmas are probably the real cause of sleepiness.
We use only 10 percent of our brains
This myth arose as early as 1907 but imaging shows no area of the brain is silent or completely inactive.
Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death
This idea may stem from ghoulish novels. The researchers said the skin dries out and retracts after death, giving the appearance of longer hair or nails.
Cell phones are dangerous in hospitals
Despite widespread concerns, studies have found minimal interference with medical equipment.
Reading in dim light won't damage your eyes, you don't need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy and shaving your legs won't make the hair grow back faster.
These well-worn theories are among seven "medical myths" exposed in a paper published in the British Medical Journal, which traditionally carries light-hearted features in its Christmas edition.
The research was conducted by Aaron Carroll, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, and Rachel Vreeman, fellow in children's health services research at Indiana University School of Medicine.
They took seven common beliefs and searched the archives for evidence to support them.
Despite frequent mentions in the popular press of the need to drink eight glasses of water, they found no scientific basis for the claim.
The complete lack of evidence has been recorded in a study published the American Journal of Psychology, they said.
The other six "myths" are:
Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight
The majority of eye experts believed it was unlikely to do any permanent damage, but it might make you squint, blink more and have trouble focusing, the researchers said.
Shaving makes hair grow back faster or coarser
It has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair regrowth, studies say. But stubble lacks the finer taper of unshaven hair, giving the impression of coarseness.
Eating turkey makes you drowsy
It does contain an amino acid called tryptophan that is involved in sleep and mood control.
But turkey has no more of the acid than chicken or minced beef. Eating lots of food and drink at Christmas are probably the real cause of sleepiness.
We use only 10 percent of our brains
This myth arose as early as 1907 but imaging shows no area of the brain is silent or completely inactive.
Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death
This idea may stem from ghoulish novels. The researchers said the skin dries out and retracts after death, giving the appearance of longer hair or nails.
Cell phones are dangerous in hospitals
Despite widespread concerns, studies have found minimal interference with medical equipment.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Duke Nukem Forever
So, I've waited years for this! The only video game I have ever really loved may be coming out with a sequel, finally...7 years after it was announced...awesome! heh heh
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
the iPhone
People keep asking me if/when I'm going to get an iPhone and they are shocked when I tell them I don't plan on it. As for me and my company, we've been using BlackBerry's for a while and love them! We never have problems with them and they work flawlessly. I found this article from CIO mag, which sums up a lot of the reasons why I don't want an iPhone...especially the lack of keyboard part.
It's really funny to watch someone use an iPhone to try to type stuff and have to keep retyping over and over. Recently a friend of mine and I decided to enter the same data into our calendar and txt a message to each other. Using my BlackBerry, not only did I get the calendar entry in first, but also sent them my txt before their calendar entry was finished...
Vanity is expensive... hahahah
The following article is republished from CIO.com. For more of CIO.com’s iPhone coverage, click here.
The Apple iPhone took the consumer mobile space by storm when it was released last June and quickly became one of the most popular smartphones available. Since then, business users who’ve purchased the device for their personal use have been requesting that their corporate IT departments support it.
Whether the iPhone proves to be a valuable business tool or a non-issue for CIOs remains to be seen, but a new report from Forrester Research suggests that the iPhone may never get a chance to succeed in business. Forrester says IT departments should refuse to support the devices—at least for now—for the following 10 reasons.
1) The iPhone Doesn’t Allow Data on the Device to be Encrypted
There’s currently no way for enterprises to secure sensitive data on iPhones through file or disk encryption, according to Forrester. There’s also no way for IT to enforce password policies since the decision to use a password (and when to change it) is up to the user.
2) The iPhone Does Not Natively Support “Push” Corporate E-mail or Wireless Calendar Syncing
Push e-mail (e-mail that is delivered to handhelds immediately upon receipt in a user’s mailbox) is an essential feature for a business device because of the productivity such a feature enables, according to Forrester. If users need to physically retrieve messages—as opposed to having those messages pushed directly to them—they won’t get them as quickly as possible and they’ll waste time in the process. The iPhone can sync with Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes over IMAP and SMTP, Forrester says, but IT infrastructure must be tweaked accordingly or a separate gateway product must be purchased and even then mail is delivered only every 15 minutes.
Apple’s device also doesn’t wirelessly sync with PCs, which means users must have access to the company’s proprietary USB sync cable to retrieve calendar updates or contact changes, according to Forrester. If a meeting plan or location has been changed at the last minute, an iPhone user on the go could easily not get the notification in time.
3) The iPhone Does Not Run Third-Party Applications Without Voiding Its Warranty
Though Apple has promised a software development kit (SDK) for the iPhone so that external developers and businesses can create their own applications to run on the device, the iPhone does not currently support such applications—unless certain device components are hacked, which voids the phone’s warranty. Companies that deploy, for example, sales force automation apps on mobile devices won’t be able to port those applications to the iPhone until this issue is resolved.
4) The iPhone Cannot be Locked or Wiped Remotely
Forrester says the single most important feature of mobile device management offerings is remote lock and data wipe functionality, both of which the iPhone lacks. Apple doesn’t currently offer any mobile device management software that’s anything like the many offerings available for BlackBerrys, Windows Mobile or Symbian devices. Forrester doesn’t anticipate any vendors offering such a product before mid-to-late 2008.
5) The iPhone Lacks a Physical Keyboard
The iPhone’s touch screen interface and virtual keyboard may be cool, but it is not ideal for power users who e-mail and text message very frequently. The problem with the touch screen is that it doesn’t provide tactile feedback, which makes it difficult to type without paying attention to every single key you hit. The faster you can type, the faster your messages get sent out and the more work you can do in a shorter amount of time. That’s not necessarily the case with the iPhone.
6) The iPhone Only Functions in Very Specific Geographic Locations and It’s Locked Into Carriers
The iPhone is currently only available through exclusive carriers in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, and it’s locked to those specific carriers. That means that business users who travel internationally can’t use iPhones in any other countries, even if those countries offer networks that are technologically compatible.
7) The iPhone is (Very) Expensive
The iPhone sells for double what the average BlackBerry or Treo costs. At $400, plus voice and data charges, Apple’s smartphone is one of the priciest such devices on the market, even after a $200 price cut last fall. Corporations seeking mobile devices often consider price a selling point, especially since many device makers or carriers offer business discounts and service plans. Apple and AT&T, the exclusive U.S. carrier, don’t offer any such discounts for business use.
8) The iPhone Is a First-Generation Device
No mobile device is perfect when it’s initially released. In order for handset makers to refine their products, they often rely on their masses of users to highlight their weaknesses. Some of the iPhone’s weaknesses are, according to Forrester:
# It can be difficult to activate quickly.
# Battery life is weak/short.
# Sound quality is less than impressive.
# It’s currently only a 2.5 generation device, which means that data transfer speeds aren’t as fast as they could be.
The next iteration of the iPhone will likely address these issues. In fact, AT&T’s CEO recently said a 3G iPhone is due in 2008.
9) Apple Doesn’t Offer Replacement Batteries for the iPhone
Apple doesn’t currently offer battery replacements for the iPhone, so users cannot carry backups to ensure that they never lose power. Forrester says that third-party vendors will likely begin to offer replacements in the near future, but because the device needs to be disassembled in order to remove a battery and insert another, the replacement process may not be simple enough for less tech-savvy users.
10) There’s No Proof That iPhones Are Suitable Business Devices
The only large enterprise that is known to fully support iPhones is—surprise, surprise—Apple, according to Forrester. And it hasn’t published any case studies or other support materials. Enterprises often make mobile device purchasing decisions based on the experience of their peers or industry analysts’ recommendations, but with such information lacking about the iPhone, Forrester says it won’t likely be making its way into many businesses anytime soon.
Additional information on Forrester’s The iPhone is Not Meant for Enterprises report is available on the company’s website.
It's really funny to watch someone use an iPhone to try to type stuff and have to keep retyping over and over. Recently a friend of mine and I decided to enter the same data into our calendar and txt a message to each other. Using my BlackBerry, not only did I get the calendar entry in first, but also sent them my txt before their calendar entry was finished...
Vanity is expensive... hahahah
The following article is republished from CIO.com. For more of CIO.com’s iPhone coverage, click here.
The Apple iPhone took the consumer mobile space by storm when it was released last June and quickly became one of the most popular smartphones available. Since then, business users who’ve purchased the device for their personal use have been requesting that their corporate IT departments support it.
Whether the iPhone proves to be a valuable business tool or a non-issue for CIOs remains to be seen, but a new report from Forrester Research suggests that the iPhone may never get a chance to succeed in business. Forrester says IT departments should refuse to support the devices—at least for now—for the following 10 reasons.
1) The iPhone Doesn’t Allow Data on the Device to be Encrypted
There’s currently no way for enterprises to secure sensitive data on iPhones through file or disk encryption, according to Forrester. There’s also no way for IT to enforce password policies since the decision to use a password (and when to change it) is up to the user.
2) The iPhone Does Not Natively Support “Push” Corporate E-mail or Wireless Calendar Syncing
Push e-mail (e-mail that is delivered to handhelds immediately upon receipt in a user’s mailbox) is an essential feature for a business device because of the productivity such a feature enables, according to Forrester. If users need to physically retrieve messages—as opposed to having those messages pushed directly to them—they won’t get them as quickly as possible and they’ll waste time in the process. The iPhone can sync with Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes over IMAP and SMTP, Forrester says, but IT infrastructure must be tweaked accordingly or a separate gateway product must be purchased and even then mail is delivered only every 15 minutes.
Apple’s device also doesn’t wirelessly sync with PCs, which means users must have access to the company’s proprietary USB sync cable to retrieve calendar updates or contact changes, according to Forrester. If a meeting plan or location has been changed at the last minute, an iPhone user on the go could easily not get the notification in time.
3) The iPhone Does Not Run Third-Party Applications Without Voiding Its Warranty
Though Apple has promised a software development kit (SDK) for the iPhone so that external developers and businesses can create their own applications to run on the device, the iPhone does not currently support such applications—unless certain device components are hacked, which voids the phone’s warranty. Companies that deploy, for example, sales force automation apps on mobile devices won’t be able to port those applications to the iPhone until this issue is resolved.
4) The iPhone Cannot be Locked or Wiped Remotely
Forrester says the single most important feature of mobile device management offerings is remote lock and data wipe functionality, both of which the iPhone lacks. Apple doesn’t currently offer any mobile device management software that’s anything like the many offerings available for BlackBerrys, Windows Mobile or Symbian devices. Forrester doesn’t anticipate any vendors offering such a product before mid-to-late 2008.
5) The iPhone Lacks a Physical Keyboard
The iPhone’s touch screen interface and virtual keyboard may be cool, but it is not ideal for power users who e-mail and text message very frequently. The problem with the touch screen is that it doesn’t provide tactile feedback, which makes it difficult to type without paying attention to every single key you hit. The faster you can type, the faster your messages get sent out and the more work you can do in a shorter amount of time. That’s not necessarily the case with the iPhone.
6) The iPhone Only Functions in Very Specific Geographic Locations and It’s Locked Into Carriers
The iPhone is currently only available through exclusive carriers in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, and it’s locked to those specific carriers. That means that business users who travel internationally can’t use iPhones in any other countries, even if those countries offer networks that are technologically compatible.
7) The iPhone is (Very) Expensive
The iPhone sells for double what the average BlackBerry or Treo costs. At $400, plus voice and data charges, Apple’s smartphone is one of the priciest such devices on the market, even after a $200 price cut last fall. Corporations seeking mobile devices often consider price a selling point, especially since many device makers or carriers offer business discounts and service plans. Apple and AT&T, the exclusive U.S. carrier, don’t offer any such discounts for business use.
8) The iPhone Is a First-Generation Device
No mobile device is perfect when it’s initially released. In order for handset makers to refine their products, they often rely on their masses of users to highlight their weaknesses. Some of the iPhone’s weaknesses are, according to Forrester:
# It can be difficult to activate quickly.
# Battery life is weak/short.
# Sound quality is less than impressive.
# It’s currently only a 2.5 generation device, which means that data transfer speeds aren’t as fast as they could be.
The next iteration of the iPhone will likely address these issues. In fact, AT&T’s CEO recently said a 3G iPhone is due in 2008.
9) Apple Doesn’t Offer Replacement Batteries for the iPhone
Apple doesn’t currently offer battery replacements for the iPhone, so users cannot carry backups to ensure that they never lose power. Forrester says that third-party vendors will likely begin to offer replacements in the near future, but because the device needs to be disassembled in order to remove a battery and insert another, the replacement process may not be simple enough for less tech-savvy users.
10) There’s No Proof That iPhones Are Suitable Business Devices
The only large enterprise that is known to fully support iPhones is—surprise, surprise—Apple, according to Forrester. And it hasn’t published any case studies or other support materials. Enterprises often make mobile device purchasing decisions based on the experience of their peers or industry analysts’ recommendations, but with such information lacking about the iPhone, Forrester says it won’t likely be making its way into many businesses anytime soon.
Additional information on Forrester’s The iPhone is Not Meant for Enterprises report is available on the company’s website.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
dinosaur jr
for those of you who weren't able to enjoy the concert...here is a sampling of what it was like. This wasn't the one I was at but it sounds and feels the same. ;) You just have to get past the initial interview part...
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
the biz
OK, so I'm back in the "beat box" phase, but more particularly back to the roots... here is the man, biz markie, from i don't know when, but I love it...especially when he goes into "la de dah de, we like to party..." awesome!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Riding bikes and previewing BMW's
OK - so yesterday was a blast. Me and some friends (JT, Trigg, Beck & Silas) went for a bike ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway (I believe some pics will be on Facebook soon). We went from 4000ish feet up to 6000 feet in a 20 mile ride and then 20 back. It was awesome! Best bike ride I've ever done (given I've only done like 5 since I've had my bike...hahaha). But I'm going to tell you what really made the day...
BMW. Yep, they were out test-driving a new model on the Parkway yesterday - and do they look cool! I'm ready to trade my FJ in on one now. Too bad it'll be a couple years before they're out. They were all taped up like in the magazines and they were only driving black and dark gray ones. I even got to talk to one of the guys for a little bit (helped me brush up on my German, he wouldn't talk to me in English). Super fun. He wouldn't tell me the model name/number, but it was funny because he was so startled by the fact that I spoke German his demeanor changed immediately. It cracked me up...as I think it did some of the guys riding bikes.
Oh well, look for a super cool BMW car/SUV thing with a steep sloped back/hatch, coming soon to a road near you!. ;) heh heh
BMW. Yep, they were out test-driving a new model on the Parkway yesterday - and do they look cool! I'm ready to trade my FJ in on one now. Too bad it'll be a couple years before they're out. They were all taped up like in the magazines and they were only driving black and dark gray ones. I even got to talk to one of the guys for a little bit (helped me brush up on my German, he wouldn't talk to me in English). Super fun. He wouldn't tell me the model name/number, but it was funny because he was so startled by the fact that I spoke German his demeanor changed immediately. It cracked me up...as I think it did some of the guys riding bikes.
Oh well, look for a super cool BMW car/SUV thing with a steep sloped back/hatch, coming soon to a road near you!. ;) heh heh
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Breaking Records...
ok - so people have been asking me..."Hey I heard you broke some Guinness World Records. Is it true? What were they?" etc etc etc
Well, I'm here to set the record straight (JT, you can't roll your eyes until the end...ok?) about the records for all of you to enjoy.
First, let's list them:
1. Blowing the most bubbles at one time.
2. Throwing the most Frisbees at one time.
3. Breaking the most bubbles with the most Frisbees at one time.
4. Breaking the most records at one time.
Wow! You are saying to yourself...That's amazing! Is all that really possible?
Well, yes. It is. With the help of 12,000 people at a little shindig called Catalyst in Atlanta GA. Every year at this conference they set out to break some world record. Year's past have been largest pillow fight and most whoopee cushions going off at once. Now this is a leadership conference (which is pretty amazing, btw) that you should look into attending with lots of value. But I was completely fascinated with the records breaking...such a super cool concept for a conference.
Anyway, I thought it was cool and I'd just share since people are asking about it...
And JT, fyi...breaking the most records at once was 45's (old school music). Have you ever even seen one of those? I had to break a classic Kenny Rogers tune in half...I almost cried.
Well, I'm here to set the record straight (JT, you can't roll your eyes until the end...ok?) about the records for all of you to enjoy.
First, let's list them:
1. Blowing the most bubbles at one time.
2. Throwing the most Frisbees at one time.
3. Breaking the most bubbles with the most Frisbees at one time.
4. Breaking the most records at one time.
Wow! You are saying to yourself...That's amazing! Is all that really possible?
Well, yes. It is. With the help of 12,000 people at a little shindig called Catalyst in Atlanta GA. Every year at this conference they set out to break some world record. Year's past have been largest pillow fight and most whoopee cushions going off at once. Now this is a leadership conference (which is pretty amazing, btw) that you should look into attending with lots of value. But I was completely fascinated with the records breaking...such a super cool concept for a conference.
Anyway, I thought it was cool and I'd just share since people are asking about it...
And JT, fyi...breaking the most records at once was 45's (old school music). Have you ever even seen one of those? I had to break a classic Kenny Rogers tune in half...I almost cried.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
FedEx. When it positively, absolutely has to get there NEVER!
I am so ticked at FedEx right now. THEY SUCK. We were supposed to get a package today for the office that was a pretty big deal and as of 5:05p EDT we still don't have it. Well, track it, you say. Heh, we did. And guess what? It was supposed to be here at noon. Driver put, could not locate address. Talk about an idiot. We are only the biggest building in the whole freakin' area we are in. I mean, did they not even come here to see? It's not like they couldn't find us...if they just pulled their head out of their a$$. Oh and yeah, they've delivered stuff here before. Oh and yeah, we even have a corp account with them. Idiots. And I called in to complain and find out where our shipment was...I got a call back saying the driver looked for us and couldn't find us... the conversation went a bit like this (only slightly exaggerated)...
"Hello, Thank you for calling FedEx. My name is Stupid, how can I help you?"
"Um, yeah, hi. I was wondering about a shipment we were supposed to get today. I tracked it online and it was supposed to be here but shows it wasn't delivered due to 'sheer stupidity'. I was wondering what that was all about."
"Oh. Yes, sir, I'm sorry sir... 'sheer stupidity' refers to the fact that we hire incompetent people who can't tell their right from their left. Or their head from their a$$ for that matter. Would you like me to help you solve the problem?"
"Hmmm. ok. I hadn't seen that reason on the site before, that must be a new one...I mean we do ship and receive 100's of boxes a month with you guys. But, yes, I'd love for you to help me."
"OK sir. One moment please. [click, click, click] Ahhh, yes. I see the problem here sir. It seems the driver says your building doesn't exist. Ummm, yes...let's see...driver's comments are 'simply vanished out of thin air while I was smoking crack on my mandated 15 minute crack break.' Sir, it seems that your building doesn't exist anymore. Is that right?"
"No, I'm sorry, but that's not correct. As a matter of fact, I am sitting in my office on the phone with you right now. And there wasn't a problem in getting a package out Friday that we sent. Picked right up, just fine."
"OK sir. I see this is a slight problem. And you're sure your building hasn't vanished into thin air? Am I right in that assessment?"
"Yes you are."
"OK then, let me attempt to call the driver and see what they have to say about this."
"Ummmm. OK? Are you going to call me back?"
"Yes sir. I will call you back once I speak to the driver and inform them that your building has not vanished into thin air...or rather that it has reappeared."
"OK."
[click]
20 minutes later...
ring
"Hello?"
"Yes. Hi, this is Stupid from FedEx. I just spoke to the driver about your delivery and they insist that your building doesn't exist anymore."
"Whiskey Foxtrot Tango! What are you talking about?"
"Well, sir, it seems you are calling from an imaginary location that only exists in your (and and all your employee's) imagination."
"HUH?!?!"
"Yes, sir, I know that can come as quite a shock to you as you may live in a bubble, but our world doesn't acknowledge your existence anymore."
"You're kidding, right?"
"No sir. I wish I were. This happens quite frequently since our 15 minute mandated crack breaks were instituted. However, we can work miracles here at FedEx, just as sure as my name is Stupid!"
"????"
"Yes, sir. I can make your building reappear in the mind of our driver so that they can 'enter' your world and bring you a box. How does that sound? Aren't I wonderful?"
"Ummmm...yeah...sure...whatever..."
"OK. We're so glad you chose to use FedEx. We know you could pick from any other carrier out there who is superior and we are humbled by your choice. Your package will either be delivered by 7pm tonight or first thing in the morning. Is that alright?"
"Well, no, quite frankly it's not. It's cost me a lot of money waiting for this thing today to get to a client. I need it by 7pm."
"Alright sir. I'm glad I could help..."
"Ummm...you're not helping. You're just..."
"Yes, sir. Since I've helped you, would you like to take a customer satisfaction survey to tell my bosses how freakin' awesome I am?"
"No. Because you're not. I just want my box."
"Yes, sir...I know. I know. You'll get it soon. If it turns out that you won't we will call you back and let you know. Thank you for using FedEx. Goodbye."
"Wait..."
Yep, convo over. Anyway, I urge you to start using DHL or UPS from now on. ;)
"Hello, Thank you for calling FedEx. My name is Stupid, how can I help you?"
"Um, yeah, hi. I was wondering about a shipment we were supposed to get today. I tracked it online and it was supposed to be here but shows it wasn't delivered due to 'sheer stupidity'. I was wondering what that was all about."
"Oh. Yes, sir, I'm sorry sir... 'sheer stupidity' refers to the fact that we hire incompetent people who can't tell their right from their left. Or their head from their a$$ for that matter. Would you like me to help you solve the problem?"
"Hmmm. ok. I hadn't seen that reason on the site before, that must be a new one...I mean we do ship and receive 100's of boxes a month with you guys. But, yes, I'd love for you to help me."
"OK sir. One moment please. [click, click, click] Ahhh, yes. I see the problem here sir. It seems the driver says your building doesn't exist. Ummm, yes...let's see...driver's comments are 'simply vanished out of thin air while I was smoking crack on my mandated 15 minute crack break.' Sir, it seems that your building doesn't exist anymore. Is that right?"
"No, I'm sorry, but that's not correct. As a matter of fact, I am sitting in my office on the phone with you right now. And there wasn't a problem in getting a package out Friday that we sent. Picked right up, just fine."
"OK sir. I see this is a slight problem. And you're sure your building hasn't vanished into thin air? Am I right in that assessment?"
"Yes you are."
"OK then, let me attempt to call the driver and see what they have to say about this."
"Ummmm. OK? Are you going to call me back?"
"Yes sir. I will call you back once I speak to the driver and inform them that your building has not vanished into thin air...or rather that it has reappeared."
"OK."
[click]
20 minutes later...
ring
"Hello?"
"Yes. Hi, this is Stupid from FedEx. I just spoke to the driver about your delivery and they insist that your building doesn't exist anymore."
"Whiskey Foxtrot Tango! What are you talking about?"
"Well, sir, it seems you are calling from an imaginary location that only exists in your (and and all your employee's) imagination."
"HUH?!?!"
"Yes, sir, I know that can come as quite a shock to you as you may live in a bubble, but our world doesn't acknowledge your existence anymore."
"You're kidding, right?"
"No sir. I wish I were. This happens quite frequently since our 15 minute mandated crack breaks were instituted. However, we can work miracles here at FedEx, just as sure as my name is Stupid!"
"????"
"Yes, sir. I can make your building reappear in the mind of our driver so that they can 'enter' your world and bring you a box. How does that sound? Aren't I wonderful?"
"Ummmm...yeah...sure...whatever..."
"OK. We're so glad you chose to use FedEx. We know you could pick from any other carrier out there who is superior and we are humbled by your choice. Your package will either be delivered by 7pm tonight or first thing in the morning. Is that alright?"
"Well, no, quite frankly it's not. It's cost me a lot of money waiting for this thing today to get to a client. I need it by 7pm."
"Alright sir. I'm glad I could help..."
"Ummm...you're not helping. You're just..."
"Yes, sir. Since I've helped you, would you like to take a customer satisfaction survey to tell my bosses how freakin' awesome I am?"
"No. Because you're not. I just want my box."
"Yes, sir...I know. I know. You'll get it soon. If it turns out that you won't we will call you back and let you know. Thank you for using FedEx. Goodbye."
"Wait..."
Yep, convo over. Anyway, I urge you to start using DHL or UPS from now on. ;)
Sunday, September 23, 2007
i just think these are funny...
some of my favorite funny quotes. Just thought I'd share.
I think the worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades...or a game of fake heart attack.
-- Demetri Martin
Ah, the patter of little feet around the house. There's nothing like having a midget for a butler.
-- WC Fields
Yes, madam, I am drunk. But in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly.
-- Winston Churchill (replying to Lady Astor's comment 'Sir, you're drunk!')
I told my wife the truth. I told her I was seeing a psychiatrist. Then she told me the truth: that she was seeing a psychiatrist, two plumbers, and a bartender.
-- Rodney Dangerfield
My experience has taught me that a man who has no vices has damned few virtues.
-- Abraham Lincoln
Boy, those French, they have a different word for everything!
-- Steve Martin
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.
-- Yogi Berra
While playing golf today I hit two good balls. I stepped on a rake.
-- Henry Youngman
I frankly felt like the reception we received on the way in from the airport was very warm and hospitable. And I want to thank the Canadian people who came out to wave -- with all five fingers -- for their hospitality.
-- George W. Bush
People tell me that Senator Edwards got picked for his good looks, his sex appeal, and his great hair. I say to them, 'How do you think I got the job?
-- Dick Cheney
I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer.
-- Douglas Adams
I can resist everything except temptation.
-- Oscar Wilde
I think the worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades...or a game of fake heart attack.
-- Demetri Martin
Ah, the patter of little feet around the house. There's nothing like having a midget for a butler.
-- WC Fields
Yes, madam, I am drunk. But in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly.
-- Winston Churchill (replying to Lady Astor's comment 'Sir, you're drunk!')
I told my wife the truth. I told her I was seeing a psychiatrist. Then she told me the truth: that she was seeing a psychiatrist, two plumbers, and a bartender.
-- Rodney Dangerfield
My experience has taught me that a man who has no vices has damned few virtues.
-- Abraham Lincoln
Boy, those French, they have a different word for everything!
-- Steve Martin
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.
-- Yogi Berra
While playing golf today I hit two good balls. I stepped on a rake.
-- Henry Youngman
I frankly felt like the reception we received on the way in from the airport was very warm and hospitable. And I want to thank the Canadian people who came out to wave -- with all five fingers -- for their hospitality.
-- George W. Bush
People tell me that Senator Edwards got picked for his good looks, his sex appeal, and his great hair. I say to them, 'How do you think I got the job?
-- Dick Cheney
I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer.
-- Douglas Adams
I can resist everything except temptation.
-- Oscar Wilde
Friday, September 14, 2007
goodbye MX days...
ok - so the picture is a little blurry, but I had to post it for good times sake. This bike has been through a lot and was (really still is) super fast and could jump super high...but alas, I sold it last night. At least my cousin bought it so if I ever want it back I can probably get it easily...hahahaha. I doubt I will though. Anyway, time to shop for a new one....hahahahaha - jk.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
i was right...
well, i hate to say i told you so, but...
when i wrote about the iPhone dropping in price $200 for waiting another month...I had no idea it would actually come true.
Hmmmmm...so now I'm going to let you in on the fact that if you send me $5 you will indeed become a millionaire. Yes, that's right. Send me $5 and you will amass a fortune of Biblical proportions...
heh
when i wrote about the iPhone dropping in price $200 for waiting another month...I had no idea it would actually come true.
Hmmmmm...so now I'm going to let you in on the fact that if you send me $5 you will indeed become a millionaire. Yes, that's right. Send me $5 and you will amass a fortune of Biblical proportions...
heh
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Nod Your Head...
I think I'll shake mine side to side instead. Just when I thought there are enough musicians out there who suck, it's finally time to add Paul McCartney to the list. One who I once thought to be untouchable...now officially sucks. I wondered when I heard his new cd, which pretty much sucked except for the last song...but now I know he's gone...juice all used up. This stupid 'Nod Your Head' song sucks...and the video is worse. I mean, I could've easily written this song...and made the video at home. In fact I did make one like it about 10 years ago. Homemade. Looks he might have stolen some of it and used it...anyway... /barf/
/barf/
/barf/
/delete "Nod Your Head"
/delete "Nod Your Head video"
mmmmm....I feel much better now.
/barf/
/barf/
/delete "Nod Your Head"
/delete "Nod Your Head video"
mmmmm....I feel much better now.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
talk like a pirate day
So, I just found out that Sept. 19th is International "Talk like a Pirate" day. Well, that's pretty darn cool. However, most people just aren't cool enough to be able to talk like a pirate...as much as you don't want to believe it, it is true. SO...being the cool guy that I am, I am here to give you a little help on talking like a pirate, so when Sept 19th rolls around, you won't look like an idiot trying to talk like a pirate but sounding like crocodile dundee (if you even know who that is...).
Let's begin.
1 - This site gives you some basics on talking like a pirate along with some pickup lines and even so pirate speak in other languages...
2 - This site (my fav) not only provides an "English to Pirate" Translator, but if you have OSX, you can download the widget and always have it with you...like me. ;) heh heh
Now...translated...
So, I jus' found out that Sept. 19th be International "Talk like a Pirate" day. Well, that's pretty darn cool. However, most scallywags jus' aren't cool enough t' be able t' natter like a pirate...as much as ye don't wants t' believe it, 'tis true. SO...bein' th' cool scallywag that I be, I be here t' give ye a little help on natterin' like a pirate, so when Sept 19th furls around, ye won't look like an idiot tryin' t' natter like a pirate but soundin' like crocodile dundee (if ye even know who that be...).
Let's begin.
1 - This site gives ye some basics on natterin' like a pirate along wit' some pickup lines 'n even so pirate speak in other languages...
2 - This site (me fav) nah only provides an "English t' Pirate" Translator, but if ye 'ave OSX, ye can loot th' widget 'n always 'ave it wit' ye...like me. ;) heh heh
OK - so I hope ye enjoy...ye've got a month t' practice...so get t' it.
See how fun?
Let's begin.
1 - This site gives you some basics on talking like a pirate along with some pickup lines and even so pirate speak in other languages...
2 - This site (my fav) not only provides an "English to Pirate" Translator, but if you have OSX, you can download the widget and always have it with you...like me. ;) heh heh
Now...translated...
So, I jus' found out that Sept. 19th be International "Talk like a Pirate" day. Well, that's pretty darn cool. However, most scallywags jus' aren't cool enough t' be able t' natter like a pirate...as much as ye don't wants t' believe it, 'tis true. SO...bein' th' cool scallywag that I be, I be here t' give ye a little help on natterin' like a pirate, so when Sept 19th furls around, ye won't look like an idiot tryin' t' natter like a pirate but soundin' like crocodile dundee (if ye even know who that be...).
Let's begin.
1 - This site gives ye some basics on natterin' like a pirate along wit' some pickup lines 'n even so pirate speak in other languages...
2 - This site (me fav) nah only provides an "English t' Pirate" Translator, but if ye 'ave OSX, ye can loot th' widget 'n always 'ave it wit' ye...like me. ;) heh heh
OK - so I hope ye enjoy...ye've got a month t' practice...so get t' it.
See how fun?
Friday, August 24, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
my ears are abot to fall off...
so ryan seacrest played britney spear's new single today. Well, I listened and almost died. It sucks.
i had no idea...
So I just saw where Apple is selling refurbished iPhones. So that makes me think about a couple of things...
A - Out of the phones they sold, were there really that many that were bad that needed to be fixed? I wonder if the smudges are off the screens...
B - If you could wait a month you save $100 off an iPhone. If you wait another month will it be $200 off?
C - Will Apple come out with an upgrade or new version later this year or early next year?
Oh well, I don't have one and until they get on Verizon's network I won't get one. I'm so stubborn...Year's ago I swore off BellSouth, which became Cingular, which became AT&T. They made me so mad on a billing issue I dropped them cold Turkey. Of course I swore off SprintPCS as well (I used them for 6 months, no coverage), which means I won't ever use Nextel. Everyone knows they suck anyway. What else have I swore off? hmmmm. I swore off Honda. My Passport was a piece of junk and I got rid of it swearing off Honda's to never buy one again. And I won't. I swore off Microsoft Windows after using a Mac. Once you go Mac, you never go back. I do feel very sorry for those of you out there who still have to use a Microsoft OS. Bummer. Go to an Apple store, play around, you'll see what I mean... I swore off Schwinn. Their bikes suck. Wow...that was back in the 8th grade too. Oh well, not missed them. Gosh I could go on and on...but I won't bore you.
Now that I think of it...I did have a Honda after I swore them off...however it was given to me, but it was a fine car, a Prelude. I do have a Windows PC at home still, even though that's on my list. But I didn't buy it. I guess I would use an iPhone if somebody paid for the service for me...
any takers? I'll call you on it... heh
A - Out of the phones they sold, were there really that many that were bad that needed to be fixed? I wonder if the smudges are off the screens...
B - If you could wait a month you save $100 off an iPhone. If you wait another month will it be $200 off?
C - Will Apple come out with an upgrade or new version later this year or early next year?
Oh well, I don't have one and until they get on Verizon's network I won't get one. I'm so stubborn...Year's ago I swore off BellSouth, which became Cingular, which became AT&T. They made me so mad on a billing issue I dropped them cold Turkey. Of course I swore off SprintPCS as well (I used them for 6 months, no coverage), which means I won't ever use Nextel. Everyone knows they suck anyway. What else have I swore off? hmmmm. I swore off Honda. My Passport was a piece of junk and I got rid of it swearing off Honda's to never buy one again. And I won't. I swore off Microsoft Windows after using a Mac. Once you go Mac, you never go back. I do feel very sorry for those of you out there who still have to use a Microsoft OS. Bummer. Go to an Apple store, play around, you'll see what I mean... I swore off Schwinn. Their bikes suck. Wow...that was back in the 8th grade too. Oh well, not missed them. Gosh I could go on and on...but I won't bore you.
Now that I think of it...I did have a Honda after I swore them off...however it was given to me, but it was a fine car, a Prelude. I do have a Windows PC at home still, even though that's on my list. But I didn't buy it. I guess I would use an iPhone if somebody paid for the service for me...
any takers? I'll call you on it... heh
Monday, August 20, 2007
thank you!
Thanks to all of you who have wished me a happy birthday! Much appreciated. If you hadn't noticed, check out 2nd's blog for pics etc of the race this past sat. Got another one we're doing this sat which should be super fun... wish us luck!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Home Depot Sucks...
yes, you read right. The Home Depot sucks. So, i kinda knew nobody really shopped there and i had heard rumors that their customer service was awful, but i didn't believe it. Until today. I had to get some extra keys made for our rental house so the girls could get in since I changed the locks. Well, I went to home depot thinking it would be quicker than Lowe's since the parking lot is always empty. I found out why it's always empty. In order to have 6 keys made, I waited at the key making kiosk for 10 minutes, then went to customer service who said they'd page someone. Waited another 10 minutes, never heard the page. Went back to the desk. They forgot to page. They then paged, waited 5 minutes after that...still no one. So i went across the street to Lowe's, went inside and up to their key making kiosk. waited 2 minutes (1 person was in front of me), got my six keys made and was out the door in a total of 6 minutes.
I will never go to The Home Depot again.
Lowe's Rules.
Yes, you can quote me on that.
I will never go to The Home Depot again.
Lowe's Rules.
Yes, you can quote me on that.
Monday, August 13, 2007
absoulely amazing
this video is awesome. i don't care who you are or what you think. this video is amazing, and the words couldn't ring truer.
Friday, August 10, 2007
random stuff
i know i just posted the video below...and thanks sara, not kyle. heh. Anyway I was going through some pics on my phone and thought i should post them...
I had no idea this is what dallas theological seminary looked like.
heh - that's a joke, btw.
also, i decided to treat some people in the building to lunch today.
I took lee, kevin and jennifer to lunch at...the bank. ;) it was cust appreciation day with free hot dogs etc. too funny.
the vp called me and said, "it's free food day, bring some people and get them to get accounts with us. hahahaahah." so i did. ;) heh heh good times.
lots of people there, like a picnic. jennifer btw is lee's secret desire. oops i guess it's not so secret anymore. sorry lee. ;p hahahahahah plus i love the pic of kevin taking picture of me while i'm taking a picture of him taking a picture of me taking a picture of him...well you get the idea....
I had no idea this is what dallas theological seminary looked like.
heh - that's a joke, btw.
also, i decided to treat some people in the building to lunch today.
I took lee, kevin and jennifer to lunch at...the bank. ;) it was cust appreciation day with free hot dogs etc. too funny. 
the vp called me and said, "it's free food day, bring some people and get them to get accounts with us. hahahaahah." so i did. ;) heh heh good times. 
lots of people there, like a picnic. jennifer btw is lee's secret desire. oops i guess it's not so secret anymore. sorry lee. ;p hahahahahah plus i love the pic of kevin taking picture of me while i'm taking a picture of him taking a picture of me taking a picture of him...well you get the idea....
Thursday, August 09, 2007
almost famous...
hahahaha - now this is funny. check it out. Look toward the middle right and watch the vids. I had no idea I made so many odd facial expressions when I talked... hahahahahah
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Communist China Taking Over the U.S.
Yes. I've had this theory for sometime now and have today decided to post it up on my blog for some of you to read. First, let me say that I love all people, regardless of color, race, religion etc. I am not picking just to be picking. In fact I have friends who are from China. So, with all that PC crap out of the way, I will indulge.
Not to even bother talking about the Crusades, etc. (which will never be over either), I want to pick up with the cold war. The Cold War is not over. It never will be. How Socialism and Communism are encroaching on our everyday life in the Sates, has been an interesting process to watch. I am in the process of putting all of this together in a book for you to enjoy...but until it is ready, I will take a break and talk about the secret Communist invasion that will develop through China. Or, our trading with China I should say. More specifically, Chinese food. Yes, Chinese food. I want to make a statement here and let you discuss, leave comments, etc.
1. The Communists and Socialists (like the militant Muslims are/will do) slip into the US, low-key, under radar and wait. For Years. The socialists and communists are just now becoming more wielding in power through the media, politics and other avenues. Even in business (yes I'm referring to that damned IKEA store -see previous post about ikea).
2. They remain unassuming, even apologetic for things. After several years of plotting and indoctrinating (even unassuming people who do not know better) they come out, slowly, with sugar coated plans (and food) and even those unassuming people (who would otherwise be against communism and socialism) are on the bandwagon.
3. People think nothing of conducting business with these people, the communists and socialists. Heck, some people will even work for them not knowing any better because they seem like such nice people. It doesn't just include buying goods, but also foods. People begin to frequent the restaurants that are run by communists and socialists.
4. In the stores, goods (which are normally crap - IKEA for example)are bought with lots of money by honest Americans and it is wasted due to the extremely high markups on foreign goods. Or should dare I say, goes to help fund communist and socialist agends without the honest Americans knowledge.
5. But, in the restaurants, yes, the restaurants, is where the greatest dilemma lies. Let's say a certain communist country provides all kinds of food to certain eating establishments in the US. And the food that is sent to these establishments is laced with something bad. Whatever you can think of. And that food is then prepared and served to millions of unassuming Americans over a given week. Then that country decides to pick up arms and invade (during that sick week of course). What would happen then? Would it be too late? Would we be able to recover as a nation? Hmmmm?
So all this came about because I once joked about ow China would take over the US through Chinese restaurants making everyone sick, then just walking around taking everything over. Just a little humor for you.
Or is it?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292470,00.html
Not to even bother talking about the Crusades, etc. (which will never be over either), I want to pick up with the cold war. The Cold War is not over. It never will be. How Socialism and Communism are encroaching on our everyday life in the Sates, has been an interesting process to watch. I am in the process of putting all of this together in a book for you to enjoy...but until it is ready, I will take a break and talk about the secret Communist invasion that will develop through China. Or, our trading with China I should say. More specifically, Chinese food. Yes, Chinese food. I want to make a statement here and let you discuss, leave comments, etc.
1. The Communists and Socialists (like the militant Muslims are/will do) slip into the US, low-key, under radar and wait. For Years. The socialists and communists are just now becoming more wielding in power through the media, politics and other avenues. Even in business (yes I'm referring to that damned IKEA store -see previous post about ikea).
2. They remain unassuming, even apologetic for things. After several years of plotting and indoctrinating (even unassuming people who do not know better) they come out, slowly, with sugar coated plans (and food) and even those unassuming people (who would otherwise be against communism and socialism) are on the bandwagon.
3. People think nothing of conducting business with these people, the communists and socialists. Heck, some people will even work for them not knowing any better because they seem like such nice people. It doesn't just include buying goods, but also foods. People begin to frequent the restaurants that are run by communists and socialists.
4. In the stores, goods (which are normally crap - IKEA for example)are bought with lots of money by honest Americans and it is wasted due to the extremely high markups on foreign goods. Or should dare I say, goes to help fund communist and socialist agends without the honest Americans knowledge.
5. But, in the restaurants, yes, the restaurants, is where the greatest dilemma lies. Let's say a certain communist country provides all kinds of food to certain eating establishments in the US. And the food that is sent to these establishments is laced with something bad. Whatever you can think of. And that food is then prepared and served to millions of unassuming Americans over a given week. Then that country decides to pick up arms and invade (during that sick week of course). What would happen then? Would it be too late? Would we be able to recover as a nation? Hmmmm?
So all this came about because I once joked about ow China would take over the US through Chinese restaurants making everyone sick, then just walking around taking everything over. Just a little humor for you.
Or is it?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292470,00.html
Saturday, August 04, 2007
wtf? how much more crap can be on TV?
so, I'm in dallas with some friends (pruitt's) and Steve and I are kinda excited about this new ABC show - Masters of Science Fiction. So, if you've heard of it, it's supposed to be the new Twilight Zone, or better actually, and is showcased with stars and a cool storyline etc. Well it sucks. And I don't mean, "yeah, I don't like it. It sucks." I mean "WTF? Who in the hell hired these people to write this show and why did ANYONE put it on the air?" That kind of sucks. The only action so far, within the first 40 minutes has been flashing lights. This doctor major whatever, has threatened to kill the LA LAW guy (i guess he's the president) two or three times, but doesn't do anything about it. And oh yeah, the whole earth is decimated. STUPID. The best thing I've seen so far on this show is the commercial for the new Pepsi energy ginseng drink. What a clever commercial to insert into the lineup. All the people in it were yawning, as was I, but not because of the commercial mind you, because of the show. This stupid, shouldn't be on TV, show.
I'm actually starting to miss "America's Funniest Home Videos". Well, at least there's like a gajillion channels to choose from so I don't have to watch this crap again.
ok - I gues that's enough for now, just had to get it out.
I'm actually starting to miss "America's Funniest Home Videos". Well, at least there's like a gajillion channels to choose from so I don't have to watch this crap again.
ok - I gues that's enough for now, just had to get it out.
Friday, August 03, 2007
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